World Water Day is March 22

World Water Day, held on the 22nd of March every year since 1993, is an annual United Nations Observance focusing attention on the importance of water. This year’s theme is “Water and Climate Change” and how the two are inextricably linked. The World Water Day 2020 campaign illustrates how our use of water will help reduce floods, droughts, scarcity and pollution.

As Coloradans, we depend on the Colorado River for our drinking water supply. But there is one simple step you can take immediately that will make a big difference: don’t waste water. Water is our most precious resource – we must use it more responsibly!

Hundreds of thousands of people are taking individual action on climate change as part of the UN’s #ActNow campaign. Here are five changes that you can make today recommended by their campaign:

Take five-minute showers: Water scarcity already affects four out of ten people. With 80% of wastewater never being treated, taking shorter showers is a great way to save this precious resource.

Eat more plant-based meals: Dietary changes, featuring plant-based foods and sustainable animal-sourced food, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8.0 gigatons a year of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Don’t throw away edible food: An estimated 1/3 of all food produced globally is lost or goes to waste. Reducing your food wastage reduces demand on agriculture which is one of the biggest water consumers.

Turn off tech: Currently 90% of power generation is water-intensive. By powering down our devices when we’re not using them, the less energy needs to be produced.

Shop sustainably: A typical pair of jeans takes 10,000 liters of water to produce, equal to what a person drinks in 10 years. Sourcing our goods from responsible sources can have a big impact on the consumption of water and other essential resources.